First Fill horror story!

[gyfts 0]

Laura, what you experienced isnt that uncommon. Some people have difficult fills at first due to many reasons. I had a difficult fill my first time as well. I was stuck 12 times, but the PA used lidocaine to numb first, so it wasnt bad. However, she wasnt able to access the port. So I was scheduled to go to the hospital to Interventional Radiology and have the fill done under fluoro.

This is done by a radiologist, under a special type of xray viewing, which shows the band, the tubing, and the port. So I will have mine done under fluoro for a while until I lose more weight.

Some of the reasons for the difficulty is: 1- the port had to be sewn into deep fat tissue; 2-at first the port can move more because there is still alot of fat tissue in the belly; 3-inexperience of the dr; 4-one or both stitches holding the port in place has broken. these last 2 reasons are worse case scenarios.

so just ask your doctor if you can have it done under fluoro (if your insurance will cover it of course). Or ask if someone else in the office could try, AFTER numbing you with lidocaine.

It will get better, dont give up!! Good luck!!

[M Taylor 0]

I'm going for my first fill next Tuesday. I never thought fills could be so difficult, but after reading this I'm a little scared! But I can feel my port through my skin, so hopefully I'll be one of the lucky "in and out" fills.

[TEJAS-RATTLER 0]

I'VE HAD 3 FILLS SINCE 7-16-07 . I WORK IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL (U OF TEXAS) AND HAVE RESIDENTS WITH AND AROUND ME ALL THE TIME. MY BANDING DOC IS ALSO PART OF THE SYSTEM. SO WHEN AND IF I NEED A FILL THEY ASK IF A RESIDENT CAN DO (TRY ) IT OR IF I PREFER THE P.A. OR DOC WILL DO IT. BUT THE P.A OR DOC IS ALWAYS PRESENT. AFTER NUMBING THEY GIVE THE RESIDENT ABOUT 2 MINS. THEN THEY STEP IN AND "NAIL IT " IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS. SOUNDS LIKE YOUR DOC MAY JUST NEED ALITTLE "TARGET PRACTICE". BUT I HATE IT :omg: YOU HAVE TO BE THE "TARGET" THEIR PRACTICING ON ! HOPE THINGS TURN AROUND FOR YA. WE ALL GET BETTER AT THIS, AS PATIENTS AND AS DOCTORS , AS WE GO ALONG. CONGRATES ON KEEPING YOUR FEARS IN CHECK :clap2: BEST OF LUCK TO YA.

[lap band laura 0]

Okay all you newbies out there, I just want you to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just in case you missed my "2nd fill" post I have reposted it here. I am doing this because I am so happy now and I would hate for someone to read the first post and think that it stayed that way.

I am not scared to get my next fill now that I know about the Lidocaine even though this means 2 injections. Let me tell you I paid very close attention to the Lidocaine injection and to compare the two would be saying Lidocaine is like getting a shot with a hair thin needle and the "fill" is like getting a shot with a horse needle.

However, with the Lidocaine you never fill the horse needle at all. I would like to thank those people here in this forum that told me about the Lidocaine because I wouldn't have ever known with out you.:clap2: Thank you, God Bless and keep posting!

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1ST POST

I went to get my first fill last Thursday (banded 8/6/07) and the doctor stuck that needle in my stomach at least 5 different times.

He dug around inside me and slipped 4 times off of the port which felt like he hit my rib or backbone and then one felt like he hit my throat from the inside.

It was horrible he even did an utlra sound before he started and then while the needle was in my stomach he did another one which hurt because he had to push down on my stomach with the utlra sound machine in order to get the picture.

He finally gave up and said that maybe next month after I lose a little weight then he will be able to hit the port.

Has any one else had any problems getting their fills. My daughter who was banded 2 weeks before me has had 2 fills and no problems. However, she did said she thought she was going to pass out watching me trying to get mine.

Doctor: Dr. Storey / Pasadena, Tx

Banded 08/06/2007

Lost: 17 lbs

110 lbs left to go.....

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2nd POST

GOOD NEWS!! I went to the doctor last thursday for my fill and it went great!

I told my doctor that I had been a nervous wreck for the last month because of what happened the last time. He gave me Lidocaine cream but when I finally got into the room it had worn off.

My doc told me that he could give me a Lidocaine shot. I got the Lidocaine shot and it didn't hurt at all. I saw him pick up the needle to fill my band and I said "wait a minute and make sure I am numb" and he said "why I already stuck it in". I couldn't believe it, it was all over in seconds. I never felt a thing and he hit the port right off the bat and then I was done.

[wendy1263 0]

I think anybody that is thinking about getting this surgery should ask their doctor before if they would put the port in an area that is high up (especially if they carry a lot of their weight in their stomach area) That's where mine is..at the top of my stomach under the breast in the middle...sticks right out like a button. The fills are fast. IMHO.

[skyeblu79 0]

Laura, I am so glad that your fill went good this time. That's the only bad thing I have learned about lidocaine (if that's what they use @ my fillcenter) is that it wears off quick. My last fill, the needle popped out twice when they set me up. The 2nd time I laughed and it was my fault. By the time they got it in the 3rd time the lidocaine had worn out. Ouch!! But it still wasn't as bad as my initial fill experience.

[Big As Life 0]

Bless Your Heart...no...my Fills Have Been Painless...